A farming community located close to Lake Eildon. Many tourists pass through this town on their way to the Mount Buller ski resort from Melbourne.
Where is it?: Victoria: North East. Alexandra is 130 kilometres north-east of Melbourne; 24 km west of Lake Eildon
Things to see and do:
The town's most significant historic building is the former Union Bank - now the ANZ Bank building - (1888-89) located at 93 Grant Street. It was designed by the architect G. Inskip, boasted a handsome stairway and mantelpieces, and has always been a dominant part of the town's streetscape.
Other buildings of particular interest include the Australian colonial post office, the court house and former shire hall (in classical Greek revival style) and the English Victorian Free Library building all date from the goldrush days.
The Alexandra Timber Tramway & Museum offers visitors a glimpse of the forest history of Alexandra and the surrounding Rubicon Ranges. The Museum is situated in Station Street, Alexandra and is open on the second Sunday of each month and runs steam, petrol and diesel locomotives on a 600 metre loop. More >>
McKenzie's Flora Reserve has interesting displays of native Australian wildflowers and rare orchids. It is an easily accessible nature walk as it is located at the southern end of town. In the centre of town is Rotary Park with its swing bridge and barbecue facilities. It is ideal for a picnic.
Events: There is a local market on the second Saturday of each month from September to May, an annual art show at Easter, an agricultural show and rose festival in November, and the annual Truck, Rod and Ute Show in June.
Surrounding area:
With over 500 kilometres of shoreline, sheltered bays and safe swimming beaches, Lake Eildon is Victoria's largest inland lake. Its vast tranquil waters are a popular aquatic playground, perfect for canoeing, kayaking and sail boarding. More >>
Cathedral Range State Park features a rugged, rocky ridge of sharply upturned sedimentary rock, 7km long. The Park features clear mountain streams surrounded by the splendour of the Cathedral Range and its spectacular peaks. More >>
The Upper Goulburn is a significant cool-climate wine grape growing area in Australia, producing premium award-winning wines. There are some 25 wine labels in the region, producing wine from grapes grown in more than 30 vineyards. The Upper Goulburn extends across from Tallarook to Mansfield, south to the Great Dividing Range and north to Lake Nillacootie. It includes regional centres such as Yea, Alexandra and Eildon. More >>
Brief history: explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hilton Hovell, who pioneered the route between Sydney and Melbourne, passed this way in 1824. In the goldrush of the 1860s the settlement known as Red Gate Diggings took off. It is the only place in Australia thet may have been named afer three people - three prospectors - Alesander McGregor, Alexander Don, and Alexander Luckie - who discovered gold in the area in 1866. It has also been suggested that it was named after Alexandra of Denmark, the wife of Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, the heir of Queen Victoria.
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